In the small tourist town named Ticlaw, Florida, the mayor/preacher Kirby T. Calo (William Devane) also operates a hotel and tiny wildlife safari park. The town's major draw is a water-skiing elephant named Bubbles. When the state highway commission begins construction on the Andrew Jackson Freeway, Ticlaw is in danger of being passed with no off ramp. When a $10,000 bribe to one of the officials is accepted only for the official to renege on deal and keep the money, mayor Calo come up with increasingly ludicrous plans to try and save their town which becomes the destination of several other characters barreling towards the town where they'll intersect.
The brainchild of British producer Don Boyd, Boyd sought to make a make a film based more on his impression of American life rather than his knowledge. After touring the united states for nine months researching and writing the script, they submitted the script to Barry Spikings of EMI films who agreed to finance. Initially intended as a small $2-3 million road movie, Spikings convinced Boyd to envision the project as a larger scale event. John Schlesinger director of films such as Midnight Cowboy and Marathon man was eager to try his hand at a comedy, but wished to make it more character than gag focused. Initially budgeted at $18 million, the final budget ballooned to $24 million due to Florida's weather, the care needed for the Vietnamese orphaned children who serve as prominent extras in the film, as well as care and handling of various large animals in the film. When the film was released it was subject to negative revieiws and terrible box office making a mere $2 million against its budget and being pulled from theaters after two weeks. Despite the bad press and box office Schlesinger stood by the film maintaining he thought it was the funniest movie he ever made. I think Schlesinger has made a solid comedy even if its admittedly rough around the edges.
The movie features a solid ensemble with Jessica Tandy, Hume Cronyn, Beau Bridges, Beverly D'Angelo, Teri Garr, William Devane and many others playing a collection of eccentric weirdos who despite beginning scattered all across the United States begin to converge on the Andrew Jackson Freeway and the town of Ticlaw. The character's are all memorable with "quirks" that define them such as Beau Bridges recurring element of his would be children's story, Ricky the Carnivorous Pony, or Daniel Stern's coke using/dealing hitchhiker who's trying to get to the Super Bowl. The characters are solid, and despite playing at a more relaxed pace than "gag-a-minute" comedies there is something about Honky Tonk Freeway that is undeniably appealing. With its quirky ensemble, Florida setting, and satire of commerce, infrastructure, and government corruption Honky Tonk Freeway feels like a dry run of the kind of "Florida shenanigans" you'd see in the likes of Carl Hiaasen or Dave Barry. While Honky Tonk Freeway is a bit lacking on polish there's some solid work from the cast and undeniable energy.
Honky Tonk Freeway isn't a lost comedy masterpiece, but it is an entertaining character based farce with a fun exaggerated take on American culture by British filmmakers. The pacing is a little slack in the beginning and has its focus spread a tad too thin, but it makes up for it with a grand sense of scale and solid work from its ensemble.
The brainchild of British producer Don Boyd, Boyd sought to make a make a film based more on his impression of American life rather than his knowledge. After touring the united states for nine months researching and writing the script, they submitted the script to Barry Spikings of EMI films who agreed to finance. Initially intended as a small $2-3 million road movie, Spikings convinced Boyd to envision the project as a larger scale event. John Schlesinger director of films such as Midnight Cowboy and Marathon man was eager to try his hand at a comedy, but wished to make it more character than gag focused. Initially budgeted at $18 million, the final budget ballooned to $24 million due to Florida's weather, the care needed for the Vietnamese orphaned children who serve as prominent extras in the film, as well as care and handling of various large animals in the film. When the film was released it was subject to negative revieiws and terrible box office making a mere $2 million against its budget and being pulled from theaters after two weeks. Despite the bad press and box office Schlesinger stood by the film maintaining he thought it was the funniest movie he ever made. I think Schlesinger has made a solid comedy even if its admittedly rough around the edges.
The movie features a solid ensemble with Jessica Tandy, Hume Cronyn, Beau Bridges, Beverly D'Angelo, Teri Garr, William Devane and many others playing a collection of eccentric weirdos who despite beginning scattered all across the United States begin to converge on the Andrew Jackson Freeway and the town of Ticlaw. The character's are all memorable with "quirks" that define them such as Beau Bridges recurring element of his would be children's story, Ricky the Carnivorous Pony, or Daniel Stern's coke using/dealing hitchhiker who's trying to get to the Super Bowl. The characters are solid, and despite playing at a more relaxed pace than "gag-a-minute" comedies there is something about Honky Tonk Freeway that is undeniably appealing. With its quirky ensemble, Florida setting, and satire of commerce, infrastructure, and government corruption Honky Tonk Freeway feels like a dry run of the kind of "Florida shenanigans" you'd see in the likes of Carl Hiaasen or Dave Barry. While Honky Tonk Freeway is a bit lacking on polish there's some solid work from the cast and undeniable energy.
Honky Tonk Freeway isn't a lost comedy masterpiece, but it is an entertaining character based farce with a fun exaggerated take on American culture by British filmmakers. The pacing is a little slack in the beginning and has its focus spread a tad too thin, but it makes up for it with a grand sense of scale and solid work from its ensemble.